This is so important that if you haven’t done it already, don’t tell me because I will rip my hair out. No joke.
My fundamental tip of the day for you parents is this: Get each of your children their own library card NOW!
Every school, at least in developed countries, has its own library. However, if you have children who aren’t in school, or if you are a homeschooling parent, your children NEED access to a public library.
What you should do with that library card…
1. Give your child a special place to keep their library card so they never lose it.
2. Make or purchase a simple bag for each of your children to carry those library books each time they visit.
3. Have each child make a list of the books they checked out and leave it inside the bag. This way, when it comes time to return them, you’ll know if they are all accounted for. Some libraries print receipts so you can just drop those in the bags.
3. Designate a place in your home where they can put the books once they have finished reading them. Maybe a special hook near the door where they can hang their library bag and place the finished books inside. This will prevent those late or lost book fees we all dread so much.
The benefits of having a library card…
1. Your kids will always have access to LOTS of books. They may not always be interested in the same topics all the time, but they will be able to develop new tastes and have the freedom to learn new things.
2. They will learn to appreciate hard copy books and not just the electronic kind. I’m older than eBooks, and I suffer from a strong emotional attachment to the feel and smell of a physical hard copy book. However, due to my rather nomadic lifestyle, I am unable to collect these gorgeous treasures and am obligated to buy eBooks.
3. They will learn to be responsible. Just knowing that my parents were going to have to shell out cash if I forgot to return a book or lost it motivated me to take care of the library’s property.
4. They will be awed by librarians and justly so. Librarians are some of the most interesting people in the world. I’ve never asked, but I can only imagine that librarians read a much larger number of books than the average person. They seem to know where just about everything is in that breathtaking labyrinth of books.
A few extra tips
Get to know the librarians of the children’s section of your public library and the school librarian once your children are enrolled. It is likely that they will notice patterns in what your kids like to read and can make recommendations. They will also probably notice if your kids are reading material that is not challenging enough or, conversely, a bit over their heads. My school librarian, Melanie, pointed out to my mom that I was reading a lot of Clifford the Red Dog books, when in reality, she knew I could handle higher-level material. She encouraged me to look at some other books and I continued to grow as a reader.
Instead of letting them sit around playing video games, watching TV, or wasting several useless hours on the internet, take them to the library’s story time. Most libraries have scheduled story time, where everyone is welcome to listen to one of the librarians read a book out loud. Check your local library’s webpage for a schedule of events and mark them on your calendar. You can also ask for one of the handouts when you visit since they usually have them on the counter.
Make library time a reward for good behavior and/or good grades. When books and reading become something positive, it will only inspire your kids to read more.
If you’re looking for book recommendations, I’ve started a Pinterest board of “Fantastic Books”. You can see the link to my Pinterest boards on the left sidebar. Or click here to view the Help Kids Write HQ Pinterest account.
My final thought
You might be asking, ‘But Abby, why are you making such a big deal out of reading, when your blog is all about writing?’ Well dear reader, I think the famous author Stephen King says it best, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” So if you aren’t giving your kids a good foundation as readers, it is far less likely that they will ever want to be writers. And remember, writing allows them to express themselves so they can be clearly understood. This makes happier more balanced children. And this makes your experience as a parent much better.
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